My workplace recently upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7. It seems to have been well-received by most, as I expect most users are familiar with using Windows 7 and its various features on their home computers. There are a number of shortcuts/shortkeys that are not always known to the common user. Mastering these tricks(...)

Two weeks ago, my wife and I were blessed with a new addition to our family - Kate. It was a beautiful experience that exuded heaps and heaps of happiness. We have a lot of support from our friends and families, which resonates with the saying that it takes a community to raise a child.(...)

Nothing says "good times" like breaking up ice in your driveway. We've just recently moved into our new place in Ottawa, and we were blessed with some warmer weather. Needless to say, I took the opportunity to flex my muscles and try to discard of some of that built-up ice around the driveway. Turns out(...)

My life with smartphones has been pretty short-lived. A few years back I got an iPhone 4 (this was my first smartphone). As I'm sure many of you can relate, it quickly became attached at the hip. I'm a big fan of iOS, and it's polished feel. But, my thoughts about the grass being greener(...)

If my hands could talk, they would say "it's been a long cold winter". It's hard to believe that two years ago I was riding my bike into work, and enjoying more temperate weather. This year, I'll be enjoying a 33% longer bike ride. I'll be travelling 28km in each direction. It's too early to tell(...)

Volunteering has to be one of the most rewarding activities out there. There is something overwhelmingly pleasant about helping others. Don't get me wrong, there are activities (e.g., door-to-door money collection and sales) that are difficult. But, the overall sense of accomplishment that comes from helping a specific cause, is just unreal. While in Ottawa,(...)

Running a democratic country is tough. I've recently gotten my hands on Democracy 3, a game that tries to simulate the complexities of running a democratic society. You're probably thinking to yourself that that sounds fun. Well, it was at first. In my first (and only game to date), I took control of Canada. How(...)

Check out these KDE keyboard shortcuts, because we all know we love shortcuts! 1. Alt-F2 This brings up the the "Run Command" prompt and gives you quick access to all your Linux applications. This is similar to Windows' Launchy and GNOME-Do. 2. Alt-Tab Cycle through the applications/windows you have open. 3. Alt-F4 Close the window(...)

Over my years working with Transport Canada, I have noticed that I frequent several websites more often than others (when it comes to Arctic-related news). Here's a list of sites I use to keep on top of the latest happenings: The Arctic Institute - Center for Circumpolar Security Studies United States Arctic Research Commission Nunatsiaq(...)